ENRD Main Stories Archives
STORY OF THE MONTH: LEADER event inspires transnational cooperation!
‘Cooperation, onwards and upwards!’ was the theme of the second national LEADER cooperation event - held in November 2012 - that showcased how National Rural Networks (NRNs) can help to spark transnational cooperation (TNC).
Organised by the French National Rural Network in collaboration with two regional rural networks Montbrison in the Rhone-Alpes region, the initiative gathered 250 participants, including Local Action Group (LAG) representatives from 11 countries. TNC is strongly supported by the NRN and its support unit in France, where 86 such projects have been approved in the current programming period (at the time of the LEADER meeting was held.
Time for action
The event was focused on making cooperation happen sooner rather than later and to get all LAGs involved. There is a limited timeframe, “for us all to engage, cooperate and utilise the remaining opportunities within LEADER in the current programming period," emphasised Catherine Marcellin, head of the office for development of territories and agricultural development in the French agriculture ministry.
TNC agreement
Taking this message to heart, representatives of French and Italian LAGs officially signed a TNC agreement at the event! The original idea for this cooperation project was hatched at the cooperation corner during the LEADER 2012 event in Brussels.
Event highlights
The event’s plenary session provided an overview of the cooperation trends in France and Marina Brakalova from the ENRD introducing the European dimension of TNC. The representatives of the European Commission speaking at the event indicated that funding for TNC is set to increase in the future.
The subsequent workshops and activities were structured to facilitate peer-to-peer exchange and learning. Cooperation offers were posted on ad boards and many exploratory meetings took place. And at the end of each day’s work, participants were encouraged to sample local produce, which provided another great opportunity to network!
Outcomes
The role of NRNs in assisting, mediating and supporting TNC was highlighted as being an important success factor. The event concluded that TNC should be a strategic choice for the participating LAGs’ area development rather than simply be seen as a potential source of funding. LAGs also need support to start and develop their cooperation projects.
The ENRD stand attracted a considerable number of visitors and a number of LAGs were sufficiently inspired to publish their offers on the ENRD’s TNC database – a unique list of project ideas and contact details for the project promoters who are seeking to identify potential TNC partners.
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The images accompanying this article were taken from an informative slideshow of the Montbrison event.
